Introducing The Campaign:
The #AIRS (#Abolish Incarcerated Reality Shows) campaign, led by America On Trial Inc., is dedicated to ending the exploitation of incarcerated individuals through reality TV shows such as 60 Days In (A&E) Jailbirds (Netflix) and so many more. These programs profit from the suffering of those behind bars, sensationalize prison life, and perpetuate harmful stereotypes that dehumanize detainees while normalizing incarceration for entertainment and profit. Networks like A&E, Netflix, CourtTV, and others fuel the "Carceral Entertainment Complex," turning incarceration into a commodity without offering compensation or protections for those they exploit.
Our report, The Exploitation of Incarcerated Populations in 60 Days In and A&E Network, reveals the alarming reach of these programs. 60 Days In airs in over 100 countries, embedding harmful narratives into the global consciousness. Viewer demographics show that 26% of the audience is aged 50 or older, 21% is aged 24-54, and 15% is aged 18-49. Younger viewers, aged 18-34, make up 7% of the audience, with women representing 17% and men 5% of this group. This broad and diverse audience demonstrates the widespread influence of these shows in shaping societal attitudes toward incarcerated individuals.
These programs reinforce damaging stereotypes, disproportionately target people of color, and misrepresent the realities of incarceration. These stigmatizing portrayals worsen the already significant challenges incarcerated individuals face when reintegrating into society.
The #AIRS Campaign aims to dismantle this exploitation by holding media platforms accountable and calling for an end to these harmful portrayals. Our mission is to restore dignity to those dehumanized by reality TV, amplify authentic stories of incarceration, and disrupt the harmful cycle perpetuated by the Carceral Reality TV.
Our Mission: Ending Exploitation Through the #AIRS Campaign
The #AIRS (Abolish Incarcerated Reality Shows) campaign works to end the exploitation of incarcerated people in reality television. These programs profit from human suffering, sensationalize prison life, and distort public understanding of incarceration.
We are committed to:
Restoring dignity to individuals whose lives are turned into entertainment.
Amplifying authentic narratives that challenge harmful stereotypes about incarceration.
Holding media platforms accountable for profiting from the prison-television complex.
Shifting public perception by exposing the damage caused by exploitative portrayals.
Challenging media narratives that normalize and glorify mass incarceration.
Voices Behind #AIRS:
#AIRS is led by formerly incarcerated people, families, advocates, and organizers who understand the real harm caused by turning incarceration into entertainment. Reality TV distorts lived experiences, reduces complex lives to spectacle, and profits from surveillance without consent or compensation. These portrayals deepen stigma and make reentry and healing more difficult for individuals and their communities. We center real voices — not edited narratives — and work to restore dignity, demand accountability, and challenge the “Carceral Entertainment Complex.”
Join the Movement
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